"The Big Bang Theory" star Mayim Bialik recently told Fox News that "Hollywood is not friendly to people of faith." Yet some religious celebrities have been open about their convictions -- some for better and some for worse (we're looking at you, Mel Gibson).
Here are 25 celebrities who have talked about their religious leanings in one way or another.
West talked about his faith in an interview with Kris Jenner in 2013. "I'm a Christian, and I wanted to let people know that that's what's on my mind," said West. "It's important to me that I grow, and walk, and raise my family with Christian values."
In 2013, the "Cool For The Summer" singer opened up to Life & Style about her beliefs, telling the magazine: "I think over the past few years it's been less about religion to me, but more about my own personal relationship with God."
In 2000, the "Straight Out Of Compton" rapper spoke with The Guardian about his faith after his conversion to Islam in the 1990s. "I mean, what I call myself is a natural Muslim, 'cause it's just me and God," Ice Cube said at the time.
"The Hunger Games" series star shared some aspects of her religious upbringing in Louisville, KY in a 2012 interview with Marie Claire. "In the South it's very normal. It would be weird for me to go to sleep without praying," Lawrence said.
Oprah has been very candid about the differences she sees between her spirituality and her Christian religion. In 2015 Winfrey went to Stanford University to speak on spiritual practice. "I'm not telling you what to believe or who to believe, or what to call it," said Winfrey. "But there is no full life, no fulfilled or meaningful, sustainably joyful life without a connection to the spirit."
Stephen Colbert may be a funny man on-screen but off-screen he takes his religious convictions seriously. In 2012, Colbert told The New York Times about his mother's influence on his faith. "She taught me to be grateful for my life regardless of what that entailed," Colbert said. "And that's directly related to the image of Christ on the cross and the example of sacrifice that he gave us."
The star of 'The Mindy Project' and 'The Office' has spoken openly about her practice of Hinduism. In an a 2011 live chat with Jezebel, Kaling shared her cultural and religious experiences. "I do consider myself Hindu," said Kaling, "I wrote an 'Office' episode about the Hindu holiday Diwali."
Dave Chappelle's decision to leave "The Chappelle Show" for a religious pilgrimage to South Africa in 2005 seemed odd to many. But in a 2005 interview with TIME Chappelle's reasoning was clear as was his dedication to Islam. "I don't normally talk about my religion publicly because I don't want people to associate me and my flaws with this beautiful thing," Chapelle said. "And I believe it's beautiful religion if you learn it the right way."
In a 2009 interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network on how his films' religious messages have influenced people, he said, "I’ve seen lots of people who don’t go to church, who have no concept of God, who have never really thought about it, begin to change their lives because of something that was said in the film or something the character invited them to see."
"The Office" star has been forthcoming about his experience as both an actor and a spiritual man of the Baha'i faith. In a 2015 conversation with HuffPost Live's Ricy Camilleri, Wilson talked about his artistic and spiritual journeys as one. "I think that being an artist is one of the highest forms of spirituality you can do, because you are being of service to people," he said.
People magazine asked Angelina Jolie what she learned about spirituality from the filming of her 2014 film "Unbroken", which was inspired by the late war-hero Louis Zamperini. "I don't know if there's a name for that -- religion or faith -- just that there's something greater than all of us, and it's uniting and beautiful," Jolie said.
In a 2013 interview with Parade Magazine, Mark Wahlberg credited his faith for his achievements in Hollywood. "It's the most important part of my life," he said. "I don't try to push it on anybody and I don't try to hide it.
Mayim Bialik said "it's close to impossible" to be an observant Jewish person in Hollywood. "When you're a person of faith, it stays with you all the time," Bialik said in an a 2015 interview with Entertainment Weekly.
Denzel Washington has been very open in discussing his beliefs, and, in 2012, he told GQ Magazine, "I read from the Bible every day, and I read my Daily Word."
Alice Cooper has been a devout Christian since he gave up drinking, according to an interview with CNS News. "Before, you're always self-centered, everything is always for you, yourself is God," Cooper said on the difference his faith has made in his life. "Humans make lousy gods, we have to let God be God and us be what we are."
In a 2013 interview with Elle Magazine, the actor discussed his relationship to Buddhism. When the magazine asked him to share a Buddhist tenet about men and women, Bloom said, "The goal of men and the world should be to make all mothers happy."
Lakshmi was raised as a Hindu. In a 2006 interview with The Guardian she discussed her former atheism and return to her childhood religion. "Now that I'm grown up, though, I'm not hard-edged enough to be an atheist," Lakshmi said. "I love going to temple. I love all the rituals."
Seagal discussed his Buddhist practices in a 1997 Frontline interview. "For me, in Buddhism there are specific teachings that address a lot of the tremendous hardships and dilemmas and poisons that we face in modern day society," Seagal told PBS.
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